Monday, 10 October 2011

Idol of Pleasure

Sermon notes from Daryl Wehner
October 9, 2011

Idol of Pleasure

Pleasure is good - it's a God thing.
Deut 26:9 - the promised land was spoken of as a land flowing with milk and honey
Jer 31:11-12 - spoke of the people shouting for joy, being radiant over the goodness of the Lord, the grain, new wine and oil.
These verses talk about taking pleasure in what God has provided. We can conclude that pleasure if from God.

The purpose of pleasure is to prompt us to praise God.
a. Awareness of God
b. move us to praise God
c. helps lift us from life's difficulties

There is a boundary between healthy pleasure and unhealthy pursuit of pleasure

How do we identify an unhealthy pursuit of pleasure? There are two points we will look at today;

2. EXPOSED WITH ADVERSITY IN LIFE
When we are confronted with adversity, for some, there is a natural tendency to search for comfort in pleasure. As with the writer in Ecclesiastes the conclusion is the same, meaningless.

HOW TO RESPOND TO ADVERSITY AND LACK OF PURPOSE:
Psalm 62 - my soul waits in silence.
Exodus 14:13-14 - v14 You have only to be silent.

The strategy to overcome the idol of pleasure is to be still and silent instead of frantically seeking pleasure in anything and everything and to be satisfied.

For the sermon on Idol of pleasure click here . This week another teacher; Daryl Wehner gave an honest and gentle guide to this area of idolatry. With a focus on the Rugby World Cup that is happening in New Zealand at the moment, idols seemed like a very poignant topic for over this time. NZ is a rugby nation, some may even say it is a religion amongst some of our countrymen. So this topic of idols of the heart is bang on at this time, even if you don't like rugby :) I hope you find these sermons and notes encouraging and points of learning in our own life. Be blessed.